For as long as human beings have had intelligence, they have created certain world views that give them a perspective to evaluate their existence and that of the world. This has included the origins and nature of the universe, the reality around them, nature and source of knowledge, meaning, the purpose of the universe, and every living and non-living thing found in it. One of the fundamental ways in which societies formed their world view included religion (theism) and its influence on all other disciplines such as law, ethics, and science. This paper will compare and contrast the worldviews of Christians and that of Buddhists.
Christianity embodies a theism approach to a worldview. Christians believe in an infinite personal God who exists within and without the universe. This God created the world from nothing and set the natural laws to govern it. Therefore, this world is not eternal but exists due to his grace. One day, humans will cease to exist when it comes to an end and will therefore reside in God's eternal world beyond the universe. Christians believe God is pure, all-loving, and is just. Human beings were created in His image and given the ability to think as well as a soul. These characteristics make them special from other creatures and are the source of their morality. Being molded in God's image requires them to act in a way that He intended for them, and their brains give them practical reason, which directs them on doing what is morally right (Dockery, n.d.). This moral law is natural and universal for all humans and should design all other human-made laws. It is also for this reason that all men will be judged upon their death. Those who lived a good life will transcend eternal life where they will be united with God while the sinners will be condemned to eternal damnation and suffering. Humans are not perfect, and God guides them by communicating with them, giving them the Holy Spirit to reunite them with their inherent moral nature, and offers Christ as a redemption for their sins. God intervenes in nature through miracles, and all Christians can discover more about God through prayer and reading His holy scriptures (the Bible).
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Buddhism, on the other hand, is a non-theistic religion. Buddhists do not believe in one personal God but rather the attainment of enlightenment ( nirvana ), a maximum state of happiness where desires and suffering are absent (OMG, 2019). Due to this lack of a relationship with God, morality is not derived from any deity but rather from personal spiritual development and attaining a deep understanding of life's true nature. Humans achieve enlightenment through meditation, morality, and wisdom. This religion is based on monism, and human beings are an insignificant, impermanent, ever-changing part of the whole nature.
Buddhists and Christians share a few similarities and very major differences in how they perceive the world. Christianity is a monotheistic religion fixated on God's intervention through miracles and his interaction with humans through the Bible and prayers. On the other hand, Buddhists do not believe in a single God of creation, and human development solely rests on individual effort. Both religions teach the importance of morality and the importance of generosity. Christians are moral because it is God's command, while Buddhists pursue morality as a requirement for enlightenment. Christians are involved in merit-making and charitable works due to the example set by Christ, while Buddhists do so to counter Karma. Believers in both religions see the world as a journey to a better end; for Christians, it is everlasting life in heaven, while for Buddhists, it is nirvana.
Religion is one of the most important social aspects of a civilized people. Many people have their worldviews set and influenced by their particular religion or attitude toward religion. Different religions hold different worldviews, but all have common characteristics, such as the importance of morality and God's guidance or religious deities. Christians do good to follow God in eternal life while Buddhists follow Buddha Siddhartha Gautama's path in searching for enlightenment.
References
Dockery, D. S. (n.d.). Center for faculty development . Union University. https://www.uu.edu/centers/faculty/teaching/article.cfm?ID=364
OMF. (2019, August 12). Understanding the Buddhist worldview . OMF (U.S.). https://omf.org/us/understanding-the-buddhist-worldview/
